PACO NEWS
With guidance from our Governor, state public health officials and the CDC, many live PACO events will be offered online, postponed or cancelled. These decisions have been made due to increasing concerns about COVID19 and out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of PACO members, sustaining members, sponsors and guests at PACO events.
PACO - Virtual Mixer for New Members - Register today!
Welcome to the Paralegal Association of Central Ohio! PACO is rolling out 'New Member Virtual Mixers' which are designed for new members, any members who joined PACO in the past 12 months, and longtime members who would like to network with our new members! The 'New Member Virtual Mixers' will be scheduled on the first Tuesday of every month from Noon-12:45 p.m., be sure to join in!
During the event you will have an opportunity to learn more about PACO, meet PACO's President and Vice President/Coordinator of Membership, and other Executive Board members. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions, as well as network with one another while learning more about PACO's website and where to find resources.
Be sure to register now by going to PACO's Calendar of Events. You will receive zoom meeting credentials prior to the day of the event.
You must be a member of PACO to register for this event. Not a member? Join Now, click here.
PACO - Announcing PACO’s 2021 Membership Drive
Let’s celebrate summer with a membership drive! The Membership Committee is excited to announce that during the months of July and August, each new member in the categories of 'Paralegal Member' and 'Paralegal Associate Member' will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25 Starbucks gift card! The drawing for the month of June will be held during the July 6, 2021 New Member Mixer and the drawing for the month of July will be held during the August 3, 2021 New Member Mixer. Winners need not be present.
In the spirit of celebrating back-to-school there will be a new 'paralegal student member' drive! During September and October, each new Student Member will be entered in a drawing for a $25 Starbucks gift card! The drawing for the month of September will be held during the October 5, 2021 New Member Mixer. The drawing for the month of October will be held during the November 2, 2021 New Member Mixer. Winners need not be present.
Spread the word! Tell all of your paralegal friends and encourage them to become PACO members. They may be the lucky winner(s)!
PACO Program's Committee has been busy coordinating General Membership Meetings which are held monthly via Zoom during COVID-19, from 12 Noon- 1:00 p.m. We are excited to welcome Steve Hager and Karen Patterson from Veritext to speak with us about Tools & Technology in the Trial Setting!
Date: Thursday, June 24, 2021
Time: 12 Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Zoom Meeting (link to be provided)
Registration: Wild Apricot (calendar, select the date to register)
Topic: Privacy Issues & How Technology Can Protect PII, Intellectual Property, and Protect Companies from Fines
Speaker: Steve Hager & Karen Patterson from Veritext
CLE NFPA Credit: 1.0 Hours General CLE Credit
PACO - Writers Needed for the CBA Quarterly, Fall Edition
Calling all PACO members to write articles for the Fall Issue of the CBA Lawyers Quarterly publication regarding changes being made post pandemic in offices. The theme will be changes being made post-pandemic and writers could write about what changes are being made in their offices and with trial preparation. You can also explore the topic of working from home vs. working in the office. If anyone has a relevant story regarding the above, let Garth know if you are interested in writing for the CBA Lawyers Quarterly. The deadline for submissions is August 6, 2021.
Some of the benefits of writing for the CBA Lawyers Quarterly:
○ Fosters discussion about paralegal roles and utilization within the writer's area of practice
○ Gives your law office, legal department, corporation or government office positive exposure
○ Gives the writer the opportunity to network with others in the legal profession
○ Connects PACO and its members to the legal community
For more information, contact Garth Rowbotham at: photography@pacoparalegals.org
PACO - Program Committee - July General Membership Meeting and Legal Insights
PACO Program's Committee will not be scheduling a General Membership meeting and Legal Insights for July 2021 due to many members out of the office on vacation and the upcoming changes with Committee Chair and Representative positions that are effective July 1st. The Executive Board along with all PACO Leaders will be meeting in July to conduct the yearly strategic planning for the organization for the 2021-2022 year. Programming will begin again in August, so stay tuned for upcoming events for the year!
PACO - Announcing the OSBA Certification Paralegal Exam Study Group - Coming September 21, 2021 - Register today!
Coming in September… PACO is bringing back the OSBA Certification Paralegal Exam Study Group!
Are you interested in launching your personal and professional growth? Have you been reflecting on where you are in your career? Do you want to foster upward mobility in your career and stand out as an exceptional paralegal? Do you want your law firm or legal department to be able to market you as an OSBA Certified Paralegal to their clients which exhibits a commitment to excellence?
If you said yes to any of the above questions then it is time to expand the skills you already have by boosting your personal and professional development by joining the OSBA Certification Paralegal Exam Study Group to take the 2022 OSBA Paralegal Certification Exam.
Prepare now…As paralegals we know how to be prepared. It's time to invest and prioritize yourself and prepare now for the 2022 OSBA Paralegal Certification Exam by clicking here to review the standards and eligibility requirements. There are also CLE requirements which you can earn through PACO including Ethics and Professionalism credits which are coming in PACO's Programming throughout 2021.
Kickoff meeting...Go to the Calendar of Events and register for the kickoff meeting scheduled for September 21, 2021 from Noon to 1:00 p.m. with special guest Melissa Quick from the OSBA who will provide an overview of the OSBA paralegal certification and member benefits for certification.
Join now…Support knowledge sharing within a free study group environment which can hold you accountable for your preparations for the exam! Deepen your knowledge and skills through a collaborative approach and email Laura Albert at Laura@tyacklaw.com to join the study group. This study group is open to any paralegals in Ohio who are interested in becoming an OSBA Certified Paralegal.
Already an OSBA Certified Paralegal….Are you already an OSBA Certified Paralegal and would like to get involved by giving back to other paralegals? If so reach out to Laura Albert who is the Coordinator of the Study Group to assist her in this endeavor for PACO, email Laura at Laura@tyacklaw.com.
For more information... About becoming an OSBA Certified Paralegal visit the Ohio State Bar Association's website for the OSBA Paralegal Certification process, click here.
PACO - Columbus State Paralegal Students Seeking Internships
Calling all PACO members: Columbus State Paralegal Students are seeking internships as part of a requirement in their educational program. Please circulate this information to your employers for the possibility to have an intern on the job whether working remote or in the office!
Requirements to consider:
*You would review their resume and conduct an interview just like you were hiring any other employee
*The required internship hours are 120 hours over the course of the semester
*Determine a mutually agreed weekly schedule between employer and student
*Time periods of internship availability in Spring and Fall (15 weeks, approx. Sept-Dec, Feb-May) and Summer (10 weeks, June-Aug)
*Internships can be paid or unpaid
*Must be mostly paralegal level work such as research, preparing documents, client communications; this does include observing intake, meetings, court appearances
*Internship Supervisor will be asked to complete a brief one-page Internship Evaluation at the end of the internship
For more information about Columbus State Community College 's Paralegal Internship Program or to post an internship opportunity, contact Program Director Tom Shanahan (tshanaha@cscc.edu).
NFPA - Paralegal Education - Enhancing Your Skills
NFPA CLE encompasses programs designed for legal professionals, covering topics in substantive areas of law; technology programs used specifically by legal practitioners, such as legal research programs; education on programs designed to assist legal professionals, such as document manage;, as well as the basics such as research, court rules and updates, recent legal decisions, writing skills and ethics. Nearly every continuing education program designed for an attorney can be taken by a paralegal, with the possible exception of topics limited to licensed attorneys, such as “How to Cross Examine a Hostile Witness”, although such topics are often of interest to senior paralegals who assist at trial.
The law is an ever evolving being – it is not just what is written in a book, but what is decided by the highest courts today and tomorrow. What was good law one day, may not be so tomorrow. So too is the ever evolving world of technology as it effects the practice of law. Thus, to keep abreast of what is new, paralegals need to take CLE. It makes you a better paralegal and a more valuable asset to your firm or legal department. For more information, click here.
NFPA - Questions
NOTE: If PACO members have any questions about the NFPA, please send them to PACO's NFPA primary representative at: nfpa@pacoparalegals.org or PACO's NFPA Secondary Representative at: statewide@pacoparalegals.org
ACEDS - Upcoming Webinars
ACEDS partners with experts in our global community to bring you complimentary webinars that deliver in-depth knowledge on trending topics in e-discovery. The ACEDS webinar series covers legal processes, best practices, lessons from the e-discovery front lines, and effective strategies and techniques in the field. Webinars are curated to help you build skills to tackle e-discovery challenges and propel your career forward. Register today! For information about ACEDS upcoming E-Discovery Webinars, click here.
CBA Corner
For more information, click here.
PACO - SHOUT OUT TO PACO SUSTAINING MEMBERS!
Anderson Reporting Services, Inc. - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Anderson Reporting Services, Inc. for partnering with PACO to bring our General Membership meetings to the membership via Zoom. During these unprecedented times with COVID-19 Anderson Reporting has provided our organization with the ability to keep moving forward and we truly appreciate all that you do for PACO! For more information about Anderson Reporting, click here.
Boerger Investigative Services, LLC - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Boerger Investigative Services, LLC who has been a wonderful supporter of PACO over the years and sponsor of many events including drawings at PACO's General Membership meetings! For more information about Boerger Investigative Services, LLC, click here.
Heritage Bridge Genealogy - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Heritage Bridge Genealogy, our newest sustaining member. We appreciate your support and look forward to an enduring relationship! For more information about Heritage Bridge Genealogy, click here.
Poling Law - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Poling Law who has been a wonderful supporter of PACO over the years and sponsor of many events! For more information about Poling Law, click here.
Robert Half Legal - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Robert Half Legal who has been a wonderful supporter of PACO over the years and sponsor of many events! For more information about Robert Half Legal, click here.
Spectrum Reporting, LLC - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Spectrum Reporting, LLC who has been a wonderful supporter of PACO over the years and sponsor of many events! For more information about Spectrum Reporting, LLC, click here.
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to the Legal Aid Society of Columbus for their partnership over the past decade with the PACO/LASC Pro Bono Wills Clinics. At these clinics, attorneys talk with the clients and paralegals work alongside the attorneys to prepare the documents which is a great pro bono collaboration for attorney-paralegal teams. Because of Legal Aid’s partnership, its malpractice insurance is extended to attorneys who volunteer, which is a crucial component that PACO cannot offer alone. For more information about The Legal Aid Society of Columbus, click here.
Tom Sussi Investigations - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Tom Sussi Investigations who has been a wonderful supporter of PACO! For more information about Tom Sussi Investigations, click here.
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By becoming a Sustaining Member or a Law Firm Sustaining Member your support promotes the interests of paralegals, fosters relationships with the legal community, serves the public, advocates the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and endorses the mission of PACO.
For more information about becoming a Sustaining Member or a Law Firm Sustaining Member with PACO, email Angie Vohsing, Vice President/Membership Coordinator at: vp@pacoparalegals.org
Franklin County Law Library
- Franklin County Law Library Homepage - provides you links to many important resources. Visit this page often for updates on when we will reopen to the public. Link: https://lawlibrary.franklincountyohio.gov/
- Fastcase - is also allowing remote access. They are another online database similar to Westlaw and Lexis. You will need to enter the username FranklinCounty and password fastcase. Link: https://gateway.fastcase.com/login
- Law Library Informational Email Line - our staff is working remotely to answer all your reference questions. Email Address: FCLL-Info@franklincountyohio.gov
- eBooks - you will need only your library card number. Link: https://lexisdl.com/welcome/
- Legal Research Guides - many topical guides with links to forms, statutes, and pertinent agencies. Link: https://fclawlib.libguides.com/?b=g&d=a
- Forms - our collection of forms for the various courts. Link: https://fclawlib.libguides.com/c.php?g=211776
- Links - to various federal, state, and local governmental agencies. Link: https://lawlibrary.franklincountyohio.gov/Links
Renew Your Commitment to PACO
Renew your commitment to PACO! Reconnect by collaborating with other paralegal professionals and give back to the Central Ohio community through working with paralegal students, mentoring paralegal students or junior paralegals, join the Pro Bono Committee to serve senior citizens through Wills Clinics, participate or host a Roundtable discussion, or volunteer on any of PACO's committees to better the organization! Reach out to any of our Committee Chairs to find out more information and opportunities to get involved with PACO by clicking on the 'About Us' link on the PACO website and visit the Committee pages!